Om Malik reported recently that Oracle has just bought Swedish VoIP company, HotSIP, a clear sign that the world of telephony and enterprise applications is merging. And Om's constantly adding more information, so just keeping up with the input is a challenge sometimes. Today he added this update -

Update: It is looking pretty certain that Enterprise software + Voice mash-up is going to be the reason why Oracle will most def. buy JBoss. They bought HotSip, which has a product called Hotsip M2CE SCE which runs on JBoss.

M2CE incorporates the JBoss J2EE/JMX application server combining the best of web with the best of SIP services. ….. The provisioning API is used for integration with legacy systems such as billing and provisioning systems. This allows for adding and removing users, configuring services, and assigning authorization rights.

I had to go dig in just a little bit for background information and to clarify some of my own preconceived notions.

About Hotsip (from their web site)
Hotsip is a leading SIP application server provider with applications for large scale, carrier grade SIP enabled broadband and 3G/IMS networks. Hotsip offers convergent off-the-shelf applications as well as an open Service Creation Environment (SCE) for building new customized SIP and web applications.

Hotsip's business idea is to increase value by providing new revenue opportunities for its customers through a rich offering of convergent applications such as messaging, telephony, presence and conferencing.

And then there's the 600 pound gorilla, Oracle. I phrase it that way because no matter how badly Larry Ellison wants to go head to head with Bill Gates, Oracle really isn't quite in the same ballgame as Microsoft (an 800 pound gorilla). Then again, when it comes to enterprise applications, MS SQL 7 never really did find its way into the big leagues of Oracle no matter how badly Microsoft wanted it.

About Oracle (snips from around the web site)
REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., 31-JAN-2006 Oracle Corporation announced today the completion of its acquisition of Siebel Systems, Inc. (Remember they had already acquired PeopleSoft. Actually there's a pretty extensive list of Oracle acquisitions at http://www.oracle.com/corporate/acquisition.html

"Oracle is now the undisputed leader in Customer Relationship Management software," said Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. "Oracle's focus on modern, standards-based applications and middleware is moving us into a leadership position in applications and on-demand services. Siebel accelerates that move.
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Oracle's business is information—how to manage it, use it, share it, protect it. For nearly three decades, Oracle, the world's largest enterprise software company, has provided the software and services that let organizations get the most up-to-date and accurate information from their business systems.
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PRODUCTS
Database
Middleware
Applications
Enterprise Management

Om and I don't always agree on what some things mean, and I don't follow along with every area he's interested in or upbeat about. But this looks to be one of the hottest sleeper possibilities on the horizon. Whether Oracle can truly meld VoIP, presence and the suite or Oracle Enterprise Management and Middleware products into a cohesive solution remains to be seen. If they pull off the potential in this relationship, they will have the companies that use technoloy on the leading edge flocking to integrate. In droves.

We talk all the time about VoIP and convergence, but we so often think about convergence of voice and data to a single network. Or for users, we look at voice and data converging to a single desktop device. What would the impact on your business be if all voice, all data, and all your business and enterprise applications converged on to a single device? What if that device were a Tablet PC or some sort of PDA-like device. What sort of competitive edge would you gain with a fully converged application that could handle mobility and presence along with all your other business needs?

Something to think about, especially if you're already an Oracle customer for enterprise applications.

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Convergence
Oracle
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Voice Over IP